JP2008069685A - Oil filter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an oil filter which allows easy and reliable assembly thereof. <P>SOLUTION: The oil filter 1 is equipped with a base 4, a cap 5 detachably attached to the base 4 and forming a filter case 2 in cooperation with the base 4, a cylindrical filter element 3 accommodated inside the filter case 2, and an inner cylinder 31 arranged inside the filter element 3 and mounted in the cap 5. An engaging member 5a extending toward the inside of the filter case 2 is formed in a head part of the cap 5. One end in an axial direction of the inner cylinder 31 is fitted to the outside of the engaging member 5a to be detachably attached thereto. The inner cylinder 31 contains stoppers 65, 71 for preventing the fall thereof through the abutment of the tips of the stoppers on the inside surface of the filter case 2 between the head part of the cap 5 and the filter element 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an oil filter used for an internal combustion engine of an automobile.

  As this type of oil filter, there is known an oil filter in which a filter element is accommodated in a base, and an inner cylinder is arranged inside the filter element so as to coincide with the axial direction of the filter element.

  As one form of such an oil filter 100, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper end portion of the inner cylinder 105 is fitted on the outer side of an engaging member 102 that extends downward from the inner side of the upper end portion of the cap 101. Those that are detachably attached are known. The attachment part of the inner cylinder 105 and the engaging member 102 is detachably attached to the inner side of the upper end of the cap 101 with a predetermined gap. In addition, a spring 106 is provided between a spring receiving portion 107 formed on the upper portion of the inner cylinder 105 and the upper end portion of the cap 101, and the inner cylinder 105 is urged downward by the spring 106, and the inner cylinder 105. Is slidable in the axial direction.

  In such an oil filter 100, the filter element is attached to the base, and then the cap 101 is assembled to the base while the inner cylinder 105 is inserted into the filter element with the inner cylinder 105 attached to the cap 101. It is like that.

  However, as shown in FIG. 5, when the inner cylinder 105 is inserted inside the filter element, the inner cylinder 105 may be twisted and the upper end portion of the inner cylinder 105 may be detached from the engaging member 102. is there.

  In such a case, after attaching the inner cylinder 105 to the cap 101 again, it is necessary to assemble the cap 101 to the base, and a time loss occurs in assembling the oil filter, making it impossible to increase the efficiency in manufacturing.

  Further, in some cases, the inner cylinder 105 is tilted and positioned and assembled in a state where the inner cylinder 105 is about to be detached from the engaging member 102. In such a case, the function as an oil filter cannot be exhibited. A problem occurs.

  Therefore, in order to solve an example of such a problem, an object of the present invention is to provide an oil filter capable of easily and reliably assembling an oil filter.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an oil filter (1) according to claim 1 of the present application is detachably attached to a base (4) and the base, and in cooperation with the base, a filter case (2 ) Forming a cap (5), a cylindrical filter element (3) accommodated inside the filter case, an inner cylinder (31) disposed inside the filter element and attached to the cap, An engaging member (5a) extending toward the inside of the filter case is formed at the head of the cap, and one end in the axial direction of the inner cylinder is fitted outside the engaging member. A stopper (65) that protrudes toward the radially outer side of the inner cylinder and prevents the inner cylinder from collapsing with its tip abutting against the inner surface of the filter case. 71) it is characterized in that is provided at a position between the head and the filter element of the cap.

  The oil filter according to claim 2 is the oil filter according to claim 1, wherein the stopper has at least three protrusions (65), and is arranged uniformly in the circumferential direction of the filter case. It is characterized by.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the oil filter according to the first aspect, the stopper (71) is formed in a disc shape, and oil can communicate between the spaces partitioned by the stopper. The communication path (72) is formed.

  According to the present invention, the oil filter is provided with a protrusion extending on the outer periphery at the upper part of the inner cylinder, and the tip of the protrusion is substantially in contact with the inner wall of the filter case. Also, the inner cylinder can be prevented from coming off from the engaging member. Further, the inner cylinder can be reliably and easily positioned inside the filter element. Therefore, the cap can be easily and reliably attached to the base, and the oil filter can be easily and reliably manufactured.

  The best mode for carrying out the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings. The oil filter described below is an embodiment applied to an oil filter for an automobile engine. FIG. 1 is a structural view of an oil filter according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a structure of an engaging portion for attaching an inner cylinder to a cap.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the oil filter 1 includes a filter case 2 and a filter element 3 accommodated therein. The filter case 2 is configured in a sealed container shape by combining a base 4 and a cap 5.

  A cylindrical portion (tubular portion) 4 a is formed on the base 4, and a female screw portion 4 b formed on the inner periphery of the base 4 and a male screw portion 5 b formed at the tip of the fitting portion 5 a of the cap 5 are screwed together to form a cap 5. And the base 4 are connected to each other. An O-ring 7 as a sealing means is mounted on the outer periphery of the fitting portion 5a of the cap 5, and the O-ring 7 is brought into close contact with the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 4a to seal the joint portion between the cap 5 and the base 4. Further, the flange 5c formed in the middle of the cap 5 is abutted against the end surface of the cylindrical portion 4a, and the cap 5 is positioned in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 4a.

  In addition, the base 4 is formed with an inlet port 12 and an outlet port 13 having one end opened to the mounting surface 4c and the other end extending in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical portion 4a. When the base 4 is connected to, for example, an engine block of an automobile, the mounting surface 4c comes into close contact with the joint surface of the engine block, the inlet port 12 leads to an oil discharge port from the engine, and the outlet port 13 leads to a lubricating position of the engine. It is designed to be connected to the supply port.

  A cylindrical fitting tube portion 8 is formed coaxially with the cylindrical portion 4 a inside the base 4, and an oil introduction path 15 communicating with the inlet port 12 is formed on the outer periphery of the fitting tube portion 8. Is formed. On the other hand, an oil supply passage 16 that functions as an oil passage is formed below the fitting cylinder portion 8 so as to communicate with the outlet port 13 and coincide with the axis of the cylindrical portion 4a and linearly extend downward. . Moreover, the opening diameter inside the fitting cylinder part 8 is formed a little wider than the opening diameter of the oil supply path 16, and the inside of the fitting cylinder part 8 and the oil supply path 16 are provided via a step 9. Contact. On the other hand, the oil introduction path 15 is formed in the base 4 as an annular groove surrounding the oil supply path 16.

  A drain path 17 is formed below the oil supply path 16 so as to coincide with the axial direction of the oil supply path 16 and extend in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 4a. The drain passage 17 communicates with the oil supply passage 16 and discharges the oil inside the filter case 2 to the outside. Further, the drain path 17 communicates with an oil pan or the like.

  The filter element 3 accommodated in the filter case 2 is formed by bending a filter medium such as filter paper into a bowl shape so that crests and troughs are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction to form a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole. . Seal plates 28 and 28 are joined to both ends of the filter element 3 in the axial direction by using, for example, an adhesive. The seal plate 28 is made of a material having a filtering function, for example, filter paper and non-woven fabric, like the filter medium. The filter element 3 is arranged so as to coincide with the axis of the cylindrical portion 4a.

  An inner cylinder 31 is mounted inside the filter element 3. Further, an inner cylinder extending member 36 is assembled to the lower end portion of the inner cylinder 31 so as to be movable in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 4 a with respect to the inner cylinder 31. The inner cylinder extension member 36 has an upper end engaged with the step 9 and a lower portion thereof inserted into the oil supply path 16. Further, the portion where the inner cylinder 31 and the inner cylinder extension member 36 are assembled is fitted and held inside the fitting cylinder portion 8. The inner cylinder 31 and the inner cylinder extending member 36 are molded products made of resin.

  The inner cylinder 31 includes a pair of upper and lower cylindrical portions 32, 33, a plurality of (for example, four) vertical ribs 34 ... 34 extending in the axial direction so as to connect the cylindrical portions 32, 33, and a cylindrical portion. And a plurality of ring-shaped lateral ribs 35... 35 arranged at approximately equal intervals.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper portion of the inner cylinder 31 has an engaging portion 60 that engages with the cap 5. The engaging portion 60 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and a through hole 61 a is formed in the upper end portion 61 of the engaging portion 60. The upper end portion 61 of the engaging portion 60 is detachably attached by being fitted to the outside of the claw portion 5a extending from the head of the cap 5 toward the inside of the filter case 2 through the through hole 61a. The claw portion 5a is formed of an elastically deformable member, and a distal end portion thereof is displaced in a radial direction of the through hole 61a with respect to a proximal end. And the cap 5 and the engaging part 60 can be attached or detached by the front-end | tip engaging or releasing with the upper end part 61 of the engaging part 60, the said nail | claw part 5a being elastically deformed. If it does in this way, it will become possible to assemble the inner cylinder 31 with respect to the cap 5 by one touch, and the assembly | attachment of the said cap 5 and the inner cylinder 31 will become easy.

  In addition, four protrusions 65 are formed on the lower portion of the engaging portion 60 so as to protrude and extend outward in the radial direction. The protrusions 65 are evenly arranged in the circumferential direction of the filter case 2, and their tips are provided so as to be substantially in contact with the inner surface of the cap 5. The protrusion 65 is provided at a position between the head of the cap 5 and the filter element 3 and functions as a stopper that prevents the inner cylinder 31 from falling down.

  In the oil filter 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the inner cylinder 31 can be assembled to the cap 5 without being inclined with respect to the axial direction of the filter case 2 by the projection 65. When the cylinder 31 is inserted inside the filter element 3 and the cap 5 is assembled to the base 4, it is possible to prevent the inner cylinder 31 from being twisted and tilting (falling down).

  Further, the inner cylinder 31 can be reliably and easily positioned inside the filter element 3. Therefore, the cap 5 can be easily and reliably attached to the base 4, and the oil filter 1 can be easily and reliably manufactured.

  It should be noted that the number of protrusions 65 may be at least three as long as it can be attached without being inclined along the axis of the filter case 2 when the inner cylinder 31 is attached to the cap 5. .

  Further, the lower surface of the projection 65 abuts on the seal plate 28 of the filter element 3 and has a function of pressing the filter element 3 downward. Specifically, when the inner cylinder 31 is attached to the cap 5 and the inner cylinder 31 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 4a and screwed into the base 2, the lower surface of the protrusion 65 and the seal plate 28 are brought into close contact with each other. The filter element 3 is pushed in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 4a. As a result, the filter element 3 is sandwiched between the end surface of the fitting cylindrical portion 8 and the projection 65, and is positioned coaxially with the cylindrical portion 4a. Thereby, the inner peripheral side and outer peripheral side of the filter element 3 are liquid-tightly sealed, and the inside of the filter case 2 is divided into dirty sides S1 and S3 and a clean side S2.

  In addition, a spring receiving portion 62 is formed inside the lower end portion of the engaging portion 60, and a spring 67 is disposed between the spring receiving portion 62 and the head of the cap 5. The inner cylinder 31 is urged downward by the spring 67 so that the inner cylinder 31 can move in the axial direction of the filter case 2.

  A through hole 62a is formed at the center of the spring receiving portion 62, and a relief valve 55 is provided in the through hole 62a. The relief valve 55 is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 4a, and is located upward via a valve body 57 capable of contacting the lower end opening of the through hole 62a and an inner peripheral surface of the through hole 62a. The valve body support member 58 that extends, the claw 59 formed at the tip of the valve body support member 58, and the claw 59 and the spring receiving portion 62b are disposed between the valve body 57 and the lower end portion of the through hole 62a. And a coil spring 56 that is biased toward the opening. When the pressure difference between the clean side S2 and the dirty side S3 is within a predetermined value, the through hole 62a is closed by the valve body 57, and when the pressure of the clean side S3 rises to a predetermined value or more, the valve body 57 is A through hole 62a is opened away from the engaging portion 60, and pressure is released from the dirty side S3 to the clean side S2.

  The claw portion 5a of the present embodiment functions as an engaging member that is fitted to the valve seat member 60, and the protrusion 65 of the present embodiment functions as a stopper that prevents the inner cylinder 31 from falling.

  On the other hand, the inner cylinder extending member 36 includes an engaging portion 37 that is disposed on the outer periphery of the upper end portion and engages with the step 9, and a support shaft 38 that extends in the axial direction of the lower cylindrical portion 4a. An O-ring 39 as a sealing means is mounted on the outer periphery of the lower end portion of the support shaft 38, and the O-ring 39 is in close contact with the inner periphery of the lower end portion of the oil supply path 16.

  Thus, normally, the oil supply passage 16 and the drain passage 17 are not in contact with each other because they are in close contact with each other by the O-ring 39, but when the filter element 3 is replaced, the inner cylinder extension member 36 is pulled upward. Therefore, the oil supply path 16 and the drain path 17 communicate with each other. At this time, the oil accommodated in the filter case 2 is returned to the oil pan via the drain path 17.

  A sliding member 41 that extends upward along the axis of the cylindrical portion 4 a and slides on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 33 provided at the lower end portion of the holder body 31 is provided at the upper end portion of the inner cylinder extending member 36. The claw part 42 is formed in the front-end | tip. The said claw part 42 is arrange | positioned at the groove part 33a which has the upper part of the cylinder part 33 which has in the lower end part of the inner cylinder 31, engages with the upper end part of the said cylinder part 33, and is related to the axial direction of the cylinder part 4a. They are assembled while being secured against each other.

  Moreover, the upper end part of the inner cylinder extension member 36 is formed in circular shape, and the said sliding member 41 is provided with two or more on the periphery. And the inner peripheral surface of the said cylinder part 33 is engage | inserted by the outer periphery of the said sliding member 41. As shown in FIG.

  The cylindrical portion 33 is on the lower end side of the sliding member 41 and the upper end portion of the engaging portion 37 formed on the inner cylindrical extending member 36 and the claw portion 42 formed on the upper end of the sliding member 41. And the movement is restricted. Similarly, the movement of the inner cylinder extending member 36 is also restricted. The claw portion 42 and the engaging portion 37 function as a stopper that restricts the movement of the inner cylinder 31 and the inner cylinder extending member 36.

  The inner cylinder 31 and the inner cylinder extension member 36 configured as described above are the outer peripheral surface of the sliding portion 41 formed on the cylindrical portion 33 and the inner cylinder extension member 36 which are provided at the lower end portion of the inner cylinder 31. Can slide in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 4a.

  The sliding member 41 is formed of an elastically deformable member, and the distal end thereof is displaced in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 33 with respect to the proximal end. Then, the claw portion 42 formed at the tip of the sliding member 41 is elastically deformed and is disposed in the groove portion 33a above the cylindrical portion 33, and is engaged with the upper end portion of the cylindrical portion 33, thereby The cylinder 31 and the inner cylinder extending member 36 are detachable. If it does in this way, it will become possible to assemble the inner cylinder extension member 36 with respect to the inner cylinder 31 by one touch, and the assembly of the inner cylinder 31 and the inner cylinder extension member 36 will become easy.

  In the oil filter 1 of this embodiment configured as described above, the inner cylinder 31 and the inner cylinder extension member 36 are assembled to the cap 5 via the engaging portion 60, and the inner cylinder together with the filter element 3 is assembled. 31 and the inner cylinder extending member 36 are inserted into the base 2, and then the cap 5 is screwed in until the flange 5c abuts against the cylindrical portion 4a of the base 4 to complete the oil filter 1 as shown in FIG. .

  In the assembled state of FIG. 1, the inner cylinder extending member 38 inserted into the base 4 is pushed into the back side (downward in the drawing) of the oil supply path 16, and as a result, the drain path 17 is closed. Further, the assembly portion of the inner cylinder 31 and the inner cylinder extension member 36 is fitted into the fitting cylinder portion 8, and the inner cylinder 31 is positioned inside the filter element 3.

  At this time, even if the inner cylinder 31 is twisted, the inner cylinder 31 is assembled to the cap 5 by the protrusion 65 without being inclined with respect to the axial direction of the filter case 2. Therefore, the valve seat member 60 is prevented from coming off from the claw portion 5a formed on the cap 5. Therefore, the cap 5 can be attached to the base 4 easily and reliably, and the oil filter 1 can be manufactured easily and reliably.

  Another embodiment of the engaging portion will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the engaging portion. In FIG. 3, the same reference numerals are given to portions common to FIGS. 1 and 2, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  As shown in this figure, the engaging portion 70 of the present embodiment has a disc-shaped protrusion 71 that protrudes outward over the entire circumference in the radial direction below the cylindrical portion 75 formed in a cylindrical shape. 2 is different from the engaging portion 60 shown in FIG. 2 in that notches 72 are formed at a predetermined interval at the tip of the protruding portion 71.

  The engaging portion 70 includes a cylindrical portion 75 formed in a cylindrical shape and a protruding portion 71 formed so as to protrude outward over the entire radial circumference of the lower portion of the cylindrical portion 75. It is configured. On the outer periphery of the tip of the protrusion 71, a communication path is formed through which oil can communicate with the spaces partitioned vertically by the protrusion 71. Specifically, a notch 72 is formed on the outer periphery of the tip of the protrusion 71 with a predetermined interval.

  Further, a through hole 61a is formed in the upper end portion 61 of the engaging portion 70, and the upper end portion 61 of the engaging portion 70 is connected to the filter case 2 from the head of the cap 2 through the through hole 61a. It is fitted to the outside of the claw portion 5a extending toward the inside of the detachable attachment.

  Further, a spring receiving portion 62 is formed inside the engaging portion 70, and a spring 67 is disposed between the spring receiving portion 62 and the head of the cap 5. A through hole 62a is formed at the center of the spring receiving portion 62, and a relief valve 55 is provided in the through hole 62a.

  In addition, the protrusion part 71 of this embodiment functions as a stopper which prevents the inner cylinder 31 from falling down, and the notch 72 of this embodiment functions as a communication path through which oil can communicate with the space partitioned by the stopper.

  In the oil filter of the present embodiment configured as described above, the inner cylinder 31 is assembled to the cap 5 without being inclined with respect to the axial direction of the filter case 2 by the protrusion 71 formed in the engaging portion 70. When the inner cylinder 31 is inserted inside the filter element 3 and the cap 5 is assembled to the base 4, the inner cylinder 31 is prevented from being twisted to prevent the inner cylinder 31 from tilting (falling down). Further, the inner cylinder 31 can be reliably and easily positioned inside the filter element 3. Therefore, the cap 5 can be attached to the base 4 easily and reliably, and the oil filter 1 can be manufactured easily and reliably.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various forms. For example, the present invention is not limited to a filter for an automobile engine, but can be applied to various oil filters such as a filter for a working fluid of an automatic transmission. Further, in the present embodiment, the notch 72 is formed in the outer peripheral portion of the engaging portion 71, but instead of the notch 72, a through hole that penetrates the top and bottom of the protruding portion 71 may be formed. .

It is a structural diagram of the oil filter of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the engaging part which attaches an inner cylinder to a cap. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the engaging part of other embodiment. It is a structural diagram of a conventional oil filter. It is a structural diagram of a conventional oil filter.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Oil filter 2 Filter case 3 Filter element 4 Base 5 Cap 5a Claw part 31 Inner cylinder 65 Projection 71 Projection part 72 Notch

Claims (3)

Base and
A cap that is detachably attached to the base and forms a filter case in cooperation with the base;
A cylindrical filter element housed inside the filter case;
An inner cylinder disposed inside the filter element and attached to the cap;
Comprising
An engagement member extending toward the inside of the filter case is formed on the head of the cap,
One end of the inner cylinder in the axial direction is detachably attached by being fitted to the outside of the engagement member,
The inner cylinder protrudes outward in the radial direction, and a stopper that abuts on the inner surface of the filter case to prevent the inner cylinder from falling between the head of the cap and the filter element. An oil filter characterized by being provided at a position between.   2. The oil filter according to claim 1, wherein the stopper has at least three protrusions and is arranged uniformly in a circumferential direction of the filter case.   2. The oil filter according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is formed in a disc shape, and a communication path is formed through which oil can communicate between spaces partitioned by the stopper.

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